Stoptober - Diary of a Quitter: Day 28

Matthew Backhouse smokes his last cigarette before starting Stoptober. Photo / Nick Reed

Journalist Matthew Backhouse chronicles his efforts to quit smoking for Stoptober in a daily diary.

My colleague Tennessy Weir quit smoking a few weeks before me - and knowing that she could do it has been a great inspiration for me. It's also been great to have a fellow quit buddy. I asked her if she'd like to write a guest entry for this diary, and I'm glad she agreed.

Over to Tennessy:

I don't know if it's a bit early to say, but I like to call myself a reformed smoker.

I can't believe I have made it to the other side. What a filthy habit it was - is. I can now breathe and don't wake up with a gluggy throat in the morning. My daughter doesn't watch and wait for me through the glass doors while I have a slow-burning, roll-your-own cigarette.

Today, after seven weeks of not smoking, I discovered a slight weakness which I cant seem to shake - if I see someone lighting up, I have to look away immediately, and distract my thoughts.

I guess I miss smoking in a strange way. But I don't regret quitting, not one incy bit.

This has to be the easiest attempt at quitting. I haven't craved a smoke. I have missed it, but not craved - but boy did I get the symptoms of quitting.

The many times I have tried before have been major fails. I've given in to the monster very quickly.

This time around, the side effects were there, but not as bad as they were when I used patches. The mood swings and food cravings have been the worst. I have overcome them, though, but I have not stopped treating myself. I am really celebrating quitting - I totally deserve the massages, clothes and sweet treats I buy myself.

One thing I did find hard was my mood swings. I was snappy and couldn't just swear in my head, so we had to start a swear jar because my 6-year-old loved to repeat the swearwords that would come out of my mouth. My money was pouring in for a few weeks there - and it was filling up fast.

Now things have calmed down; the storm has passed. I still take it day at a time though, and tell myself how lucky I am that I no longer smoke!

To take part in Stoptober, visit www.stoptober.nz

For help quitting, visit Quitline at www.quit.org.nz or phone 0800 778 778